Personal Hygiene Tool

ABSTRACT

A personal hygiene bathing or showering tool configured to clean hard to reach areas of the body. The personal hygiene tool is a synthetic bathing loofah or mesh sponge comprising a body and a pair of loops or a loop and a handle positioned at opposing ends of the tool body. The body is extendable and collapsible to allow the user to easily reach all parts of the body. The user can accordion out the body for use and collapse it for storage. The personal hygiene tool may be hollow or further comprise an expandable and retractable center spine to help keep the body in the extended position or the collapsed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/989,845, which was filed on Mar. 15, 2020and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an adjustable personalhygiene tool, and more specifically to an expandable and collapsibleloofah for personal hygiene use. Accordingly, the present specificationmakes specific reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated thataspects of the present invention are also equally amenable to other likeapplications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Standard wash cloths, sponges, loofahs, and other personal cleaningtools are often small and unable to easily reach the back, buttocks,etc. while bathing or showering. People are forced to contort themselvesinto uncomfortable positions in an attempt to wash their back. Cleaningand exfoliating the skin on the backside or other hard to reach placescan be extremely difficult. These attempts to complete basic hygienetasks can lead to discomfort or even injury, especially in the elderlyor disabled.

A loofah is a personal hygiene tool used to scrub and clean the skin.Natural loofahs are made from the dried natural fibrous interior ofelongated gourds. Synthetic loofahs or poufs are constructed fromsynthetic materials that are gathered into looped sections of mesh tocreate a fluffy ball. They have a lot of surface area where cleanser andwater can mix together to create suds while bathing. They are oftenattached to a handle or stick to allow the user to extend their reach.However, using a loofah with a handle does not always allow the user tobe able to reach every area that needs cleaning.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a personalhygiene tool with an extended reach. There is also a long felt need fora personal hygiene tool that is expandable. Additionally, there is along felt need in the art for a personal hygiene tool with a smallfootprint when not in use. Finally, there is a long felt need in the artfor a simple way to wash the back without contorting the body.

The device of the present invention provides users with a modifiedelastic loofah capable of stretching and expanding to easily wash theback, buttocks, and other hard-to-reach areas of the body. The toolfeatures a pair of loops on opposite ends for convenient grasping andpulling of the loofah for expansion. The device also utilizes skin-safescrubbing materials to ensure the body is fully cleaned, exfoliated andsanitized when bathing and allows users to conveniently store the loofahon a hook or other accessible storage area within the shower via thestraps. Finally, the device offers a simple method to wash the backwithout contorting the body in awkward and uncomfortable positions.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summaryis not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodimentthereof, comprises a personal hygiene tool. The personal hygiene tool isadjustably configured to allow a user to clean hard to reach portions oftheir body. The personal hygiene tool comprises a body. The bodycomprises a plurality of sections and a pair of ends. The body isgenerally hollow with an external surface extending across the pluralityof sections and around the ends, but does not have to be rounded on theend.

The body may be elastically configured to expand and contract and isadjustable in length. The body may be constructed from a natural orsynthetic mesh netting material. The body is configured to accordion orstretch when the pair of ends are pulled apart. Conversely, the body isconfigured to contract into a compact form when the ends are released.

The personal hygiene tool further comprises at least one end loop. Theat least one end loop is attached to one of the pair of ends at anattachment point. The at least one end loop may be a loop of string oran elastic hand strap. The personal hygiene tool may further comprise asecond end loop. The second end loop is attached to the opposing end ofthe body from the at least one end loop. The personal hygiene tool mayfurther comprises a handle. The handle is attached to the opposing endof the body from the at least one end loop.

In an additional embodiment, the subject matter disclosed and claimedherein comprises a personal hygiene tool. The personal hygiene tool isadjustably configured to allow a user to clean hard to reach portions oftheir body. The personal hygiene tool comprises a body. The bodycomprises a plurality of sections and a pair of ends. The body isgenerally hollow with an external surface extending across the pluralityof sections and around the ends.

The body may be elastically configured to expand and contract and isadjustable in length. The body may be constructed from a natural orsynthetic mesh netting material. The body is configured to accordion orstretch when the pair of ends are pulled apart. Conversely, the body isconfigured to contract into a compact form when the ends are released.

The personal hygiene tool further comprises a center spine or spine. Thespine extends through the hollow body between the pair of ends, and isadjustable in length. The center spine is configured to hold the body inan extended position when pulled apart. The center spine is similarlyconfigured to hold the body in a collapsed position when not pulledapart. Alternatively, the center spine may be elastic and configured tostretch when the pair of ends are pulled apart and contract whenreleased.

The personal hygiene tool further comprises at least one end loop. Theat least one end loop is attached to one of the pair of ends at anattachment point. The at least one end loop may be a loop of string oran elastic hand strap. The personal hygiene tool may further comprise asecond end loop. The second end loop is attached to the opposing end ofthe body from the at least one end loop. The personal hygiene tool mayfurther comprises a handle. The handle is attached to the opposing endof the body from the at least one end loop.

In an additional embodiment, the subject matter disclosed and claimedherein comprises a personal hygiene tool. The personal hygiene tool isadjustably configured to allow a user to clean hard to reach portions oftheir body. The personal hygiene tool comprises a plurality of meshsections. The plurality of mesh sections are constructed from a naturalor synthetic mesh netting material and are sandwiched next to eachother.

The personal hygiene tool further comprises a center spine. The centerspine extends through a center of each mesh section. The center spine isadjustable in length. The center spine is configured to hold thepersonal hygiene tool in an extended position when pulled apart. Thecenter spine is similarly configured to hold the personal hygiene toolin a collapsed position released. Alternatively, the center spine may beelastic and configured to stretch and extend when the pair of ends arepulled apart and contract when released. As the center spine isstretched, each of the mesh sections are pulled away from each otherincreasing the cleaning surface area of the personal hygiene tool.

The personal hygiene tool further comprises at least one end loop. Theat least one end loop is attached to one end of the center spine. The atleast one end loop may be a loop of string or an elastic hand strap. Thepersonal hygiene tool may further comprise a second end loop. The secondend loop is attached to the opposing end of the center spine from the atleast one end loop. The personal hygiene tool may further comprises ahandle. The handle is attached to the opposing end of the body from theat least one end loop.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein inconnection with the following description and the annexed drawings.These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various waysin which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intendedto include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages andnovel features will become apparent from the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a personalhygiene tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosedarchitecture.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the personal hygiene tool ofthe present invention in a collapsed configuration in accordance withthe disclosed architecture.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the personal hygiene tool ofthe present invention in a partially extended configuration inaccordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the personal hygiene tool ofthe present invention in a fully extended configuration in accordancewith the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the personal hygiene tool ofthe present invention with a handle in accordance with the disclosedarchitecture.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a personalhygiene tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosedarchitecture.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a personalhygiene tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosedarchitecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, whereinlike reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout.In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovationcan be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments arediscussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are describedonly to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They do notintend as an exhaustive description of the invention or do not limit thescope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need nothave all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments,any of the features described herein from different embodiments may becombined.

The present invention comprises an improved elastic loofah sponge. Theterm “loofah” as used herein includes bath poufs and similar syntheticpersonal hygiene sponges and tools. The loofah features elasticproperties, enabling it to expand and make it much easier to clean theback and other hard-to-reach areas of the body. Two loops or handles onopposite ends function as gripping points, enabling the user to simplygrab the handles and pull to expand the loofah. The loofah can belathered with soap and then expanded as needed to wash various areas ofthe body. The loofah is stored on a hook in the bathroom area via thehandles. The loofahs may be available in various styles, sizes, colors,and designs to accommodate all user needs and preferences.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a personalhygiene tool 100. The personal hygiene tool 100 is adjustably configuredto allow a user to clean hard to reach portions of their body asillustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the personalhygiene tool 100 comprises a body 110. The body 110 comprises aplurality of sections 112 and a pair of ends 114. The body 110 isgenerally hollow with an external surface 120 extending across theplurality of sections 112 and around the ends 114.

The body 110 is elastic in nature and configured to expand and contract.As such, the body 110 is adjustable in length. The body 110 may beconstructed from a synthetic mesh netting, such as, but not limited topolyethylene mesh, nylon netting, or any other similar stretchable meshmaterial. Alternatively, the body 110 may be constructed from a naturalfiber mesh netting material. The body 110 generally has a square,rectangular, or other geometrically shaped cross section thatexaggerates and narrows when pulled apart. The body 110 is configured sothat the plurality of sections 112 accordion or stretch to an extendedlength (L2) when the pair of ends 114 are pulled apart as illustrated inFIG. 4. Conversely, the body 110 is configured to contract into acompact length (L1) when the ends 114 are no longer pulled apart asillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the body 110 in a partiallyextended position between the extended and compacted lengths. The bodycan extend generally up to approximately three feet in one embodimentbut can extend longer if desired.

The personal hygiene tool 100 further comprises at least one end loop160. The at least one end loop 160 is attached to one of the pair ofends 114 at an attachment point 116. The at least one end loop 160 maybe a loop of string or an elastic hand strap for a user to hold thepersonal hygiene tool 100. The at least one end loop 160 may also beused to hang the personal hygiene tool 100 from a hook when not in use.The personal hygiene tool 100 may further comprise a second end loop160. The second end loop 160 is attached to the opposing end 114 of thebody 110 from the at least one end loop 160. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the personal hygiene tool 100 may further comprises a handle 170. Thehandle 170 is attached to the opposing end 114 of the body 110 from theat least one end loop 160.

In an additional embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6, the subject matterdisclosed and claimed herein comprises a personal hygiene tool 200. Thepersonal hygiene tool 200 is adjustably configured to allow a user toclean hard to reach portions of their body. The personal hygiene tool200 comprises a body 210. The body 210 comprises a plurality of sections212 and a pair of ends 214. The body 210 is generally hollow with anexternal surface 220 extending across the plurality of sections 212 andaround the ends 214.

The body 210 is elastic in nature and configured to expand and contract.As such, the body 210 is adjustable in length. The body 210 may beconstructed from a synthetic mesh netting, such as, but not limited topolyethylene mesh, nylon netting, or any other similar stretchable meshmaterial. Alternatively, the body 210 may be constructed from a naturalfiber mesh netting material. The body 210 generally has a square,rectangular, or other geometrically shaped cross section thatexaggerates and narrows when pulled apart. The body 210 is configured sothat the plurality of sections 212 accordion or stretch to an extendedlength when the pair of ends 214 are pulled apart as in the previousembodiment. Conversely, the body 210 is configured to contract into acompact length when the ends 214 are no longer pulled apart.

The personal hygiene tool 200 further comprises a center spine 250. Thecenter spine 250 extends through the hollow body 210 between the pair ofends 214. The center spine 250 is also adjustable in length. The centerspine 250 is configured to hold the body 210 in an extended or partiallyextended position when pulled apart. The center spine 250 is similarlyconfigured to hold the body 210 in a collapsed position when retracted.The center spine 250 may be corrugated or telescoping in construction.Alternatively, the center spine 250 may be an elastic strap or stringconfigured to stretch when the pair of ends 214 are pulled apart andcontract when retracted.

The personal hygiene tool 200 further comprises at least one end loop260. The at least one end loop 260 is attached to one of the pair ofends 214 at an attachment point 216. The at least one end loop 260 maybe a loop of string or an elastic hand strap for a user to hold thepersonal hygiene tool 200. The at least one end loop 260 may also beused to hang the personal hygiene tool 200 from a hook when not in use.The personal hygiene tool 200 may further comprise a second end loop260. The second end loop 260 is attached to the opposing end 214 of thebody 210 from the at least one end loop 260. The personal hygiene tool200 may further comprises a handle (similar to 170). The handle isattached to the opposing end 214 of the body 210 from the at least oneend loop 260.

In an additional embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 7, the subject matterdisclosed and claimed herein comprises a personal hygiene tool 300. Thepersonal hygiene tool 300 is adjustably configured to allow a user toclean hard to reach portions of their body. The personal hygiene tool300 comprises a plurality of mesh sections 312. The plurality of meshsections 312 are generally flat sections or panels constructed from anatural or synthetic mesh netting material and are sandwiched next toeach other.

The personal hygiene tool 300 further comprises a center spine 350. Thecenter spine 350 extends through a center 314 of each mesh section 312.The center spine 350 is adjustable in length. The center spine 350 isconfigured to hold the personal hygiene tool 300 in an extended orpartially extended position when pulled apart. The center spine 350 issimilarly configured to hold the personal hygiene tool 300 in acollapsed position when retracted. The center spine 350 may becorrugated or telescoping in construction. Alternatively, the centerspine 350 may be an elastic strap or string configured to stretch pulledapart and contract when retracted. As the center spine 350 is stretched,each of the mesh sections 312 are pulled away from each other increasingthe cleaning surface area of the personal hygiene tool 300.

The personal hygiene tool 300 further comprises at least one end loop360. The at least one end loop 360 is attached to one end of the centerspine 350. The at least one end loop 360 may be a loop of string or anelastic hand strap. The personal hygiene tool 300 may further comprise asecond end loop 360. The second end loop 360 is attached to the opposingend of the center spine 350 from the at least one end loop 360. Thepersonal hygiene tool 300 may further comprises a handle (similar to170). The handle is attached to the opposing end of the center spine 350from the at least one end loop 360.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the personal hygiene tools 100, 200, and300 can by any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known inthe art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, providedthat it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that the shape and size of the personalhygiene tools 100, 200, and 300 and their various components, as show inthe FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapesand sizes of the personal hygiene tools 100, 200, and 300 are wellwithin the scope of the present disclosure. Although dimensions of thepersonal hygiene tools 100, 200, and 300 and their components (i.e.,length, width, and height) are important design parameters for goodperformance, the personal hygiene tools 100, 200, and 300 and theirvarious components may be any shape or size that ensures optimalperformance during use and/or that suits user need and/or preference. Assuch, the personal hygiene tools 100, 200, and 300 may be comprised ofsizing/shaping that is appropriate and specific in regard to whateverthe personal hygiene tools 100, 200, and 300 are designed to be applied.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subjectmatter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art mayrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimedsubject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal hygiene tool comprising: a bodycomprising a plurality of sections, a pair of ends, and an externalsurface extending across the plurality of sections and around the pairof ends; and an end loop attached to one of the pair of ends; andwherein the body is adjustable in length.
 2. The personal hygiene toolof claim 1, wherein the body is hollow.
 3. The personal hygiene tool ofclaim 1, wherein the body is elastic.
 4. The personal hygiene tool ofclaim 1, wherein the body is constructed from a synthetic mesh.
 5. Thepersonal hygiene tool of claim 3, wherein the synthetic mesh ispolyethylene mesh.
 6. The personal hygiene tool of claim 1, wherein thebody is constructed from a natural fiber mesh.
 7. The personal hygienetool of claim 1, wherein the body has a square cross section.
 8. Thepersonal hygiene tool of claim 1, wherein the body has a rectangularcross section
 9. The personal hygiene tool of claim 1, wherein the bodyis extendable up to three feet in length.
 10. The personal hygiene toolof claim 1 further comprising a second end loop attached to the opposingend of the body from the end loop.
 11. The personal hygiene tool ofclaim 1 further comprising a handle attached to the opposing end of thebody from the end loop.
 12. A personal hygiene tool comprising: a bodycomprising a plurality of sections, a pair of ends, and an externalsurface extending across the plurality of sections and around the ends;and an end loop attached to one of the pair of ends; a center spineextending through the body between the pair of ends; and wherein thebody is adjustable in length.
 13. The personal hygiene tool of claim 12,wherein the center spine is adjustable in length.
 14. The personalhygiene tool of claim 12, wherein the center spine is corrugated. 15.The personal hygiene tool of claim 12, wherein the center spine isconfigured to hold the body in a collapsed or extended position.
 16. Thepersonal hygiene tool of claim 12, wherein the body is constructed froma synthetic mesh.
 17. The personal hygiene tool of claim 11 furthercomprising a second end loop attached to the opposing end of the bodyfrom the end loop.
 18. A personal hygiene tool comprising: a pluralityof mesh panel sections; a center spine extending through a center ofeach mesh panel section; and a pair of end loops attached to opposingends of the center spine; and wherein the center spine is adjustable inlength.
 19. The personal hygiene tool of claim 18, wherein the centerspine is elastic.
 20. The personal hygiene tool of claim 18, wherein thecenter spine is configured to hold the body in a collapsed or extendedposition